--- l/drivers/infiniband/core/verbs.c
+++ v/drivers/infiniband/core/verbs.c
@@ -1979,6 +1979,7 @@ int ib_get_eth_speed(struct ib_device *d
 	netdev = ib_device_get_netdev(dev, port_num);
 	if (!netdev)
 		return -ENODEV;
+	dev_hold(netdev);
 
 	rtnl_lock();
 	rc = __ethtool_get_link_ksettings(netdev, &lksettings);
@@ -1995,6 +1996,7 @@ int ib_get_eth_speed(struct ib_device *d
 				netdev->name, netdev_speed);
 	}
 
+	dev_put(netdev);
 	ib_get_width_and_speed(netdev_speed, lksettings.lanes,
 			       speed, width);